Spotlight: Westwood College School of Design
School of Design Programs:
- Animation
- Computer Aided Design-Architectural Drafting
- Game Art
- Graphic Design & Mulitmedia
- Interior Design
- Visual Communications
- Web Design & Multimedia
“ Students need to be able to grow in a safe and nurturing environment. I encourage bravery, boldness, and inquiry from students.“ -- John Hebard, Program Director of the school of Design, online division
At the School of Design at Westwood College, student success comes first. Dedicated faculty and tailored curricula provide learners from a variety of backgrounds with high quality, career-focused education. Students can enjoy coursework in subject areas from animation and game art to interior design and visual communications. Furthermore, the school's six campus locations and array of online degree programs help students balance educational goals and work and/or family commitments. If you have an affinity for art or are consumed by CAD, learn how the Westwood College School of Design can help you earn a degree and find a career.
Professional Faculty & Quality Development at the School of Design
Instructors at the Westwood College School of Design are required to have a master's degree and over 8,000 hours of professional experience as designers before they're even considered for a position. Today, as the Program Director of the School of Design for Westwood College's online division, John Hebard speaks with a lot of pride about the faculty:
"This unique combination of qualities assures that instructors have the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to be guides for our student population," Mr. Hebard explains. "You'll be working with professionals who care about you, as a person, and as a student and professional," he says. "Each instructor has a gift to share with every student they come into contact with."
First-Time Learners Welcomed When Starting Their College Degree
At Westwood College, faculty members are aware of the challenges their students face as they return to school. Teaching an online class for first-time learners has its own special challenges, but Mr. Hebard is happy to rise to meet them. "As students are new, I spend lots of time with each one of them making sure that they are comfortable with the online platform, and that each one gets special attention their first term," he says. Faculty members like Mr. Hebard are pleased to personally welcome new students to the Westwood College School of Design.
Westwood College School of Design Online Degree Programs
Ready to learn more? Whether you're designing for the real world or for the next great video game, Westwood College has options for you. Learn more about the design degrees and programs offered by Westwood College:
Animation
Learn the tricks and how to use the tools of animation with a degree that focuses on the specialized art you love. Careers for animators include work as a 3D animator or graphic designer, Flash designer or animator, Web animator, or desktop publisher. Check out some popular coursework in a typical animation degree program:
- Character Development and Design
- 3D Modeling
- 2D Animation
- Advanced Digital Effects
Computer-Aided Design-Architectural Drafting
Work behind-the-scenes in the architectural world, designing and creating residential and commercial spaces. You'll be prepared to work as an architectural drafter, CAD drafter, auto CAD professional, or structural drafter with the training you receive from Westwood College School of Design. Here are just a few courses you might take as you train:
- Basic Drafting
- Commercial CAD Design
- Residential Construction Documents
- 3D AutoCAD
Game Art
In the competitive video game industry, training helps you get a leg up on your competition. Graduates of Westwood College's game art online degree program may go on to work as quality assurance game testers, lead artists, 3D character modelers, or graphic designers. Check out some popular coursework for game art degree students:
- Texture Mapping for Games
- Game Analysis and Playability
- Science Fiction and Fantasy
- Introduction to Game Development
Graphic Design & Multimedia
Combine your creative skill with technical training in a graphic design and multimedia degree program. Graphic designers earned mean annual wages of $46,750 in 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports. Graduate and move into the workplace as a production manager, advertising and design coordinator, graphic designer, or artist. Here are a few popular coursework options for Westwood College students:
- Digital Layout
- Image Editing
- 3D Modeling and Animation
- Multimedia: Audio-Video
Interior Design
Do you dream of arranging the spaces that bring calm and comfort to homes and businesses? Working in interior design lets you utilize your design skills in a professional environment. Earn a degree that gives you training to become an interior designer, drafter, or showroom manager. Here's some of the most popular coursework for students of the interior design program:
- Basic Drafting
- Space Planning
- Digital Walkthrough
- Visualization and Portfolio
Visual Communications
Earn a broad-based visual communications degree, and you'll find a range of ways to apply your skills. Visual communications degree graduates go on to become design artists and illustrators, communications managers, production art managers, Web editors, and more. Coursework for students of the visual communications degree program includes:
- Multimedia: Presentation Graphics
- Advanced Image Editing
- Advertising Campaign Concepts
- Graphic Design Business Practices
Web Design & Multimedia
Whether you have years of experience in Web design or you're just learning the basics, a degree in Web design and multimedia gives you the latest technology you can use in your digital portfolio. Earn the degree that trains you to become a Web administrator, Web designer, Web analyst, or digital project manager. Here are a few popular courses enjoyed by students of the Web design and multimedia degree program:
- Advanced Interactive Authoring and Design
- Database Design and Development
- Web Technologies
- Interactive Scripting
Earning Your College Degree at Westwood College
Westwood College offers School of Design in campus and online degree programs. School of Design programs are located in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Virginia. The schools can be found in larger cities, where students and graduates may find more design-related career opportunities.
Mr. Hebard is just one faculty member in the Westwood College School of Design who loves his work. "Students need to be able to grow in a safe and nurturing environment," he says. "I encourage bravery, boldness, and inquiry from students." As a student of Westwood College, you're given the chance to stand out from the crowd.
"Westwood College's online campus is not currently accepting Texas residents for its programs. If you are a Texas resident interested in attending Westwood College and taking some courses online, please select one of our campuses in Dallas, Fort Worth or Houston."
Westwood College - Online is approved to award associate, bachelor, and master's degrees by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. All degrees conferred by Westwood College ??? Online are in accordance with the Colorado statutes and regulated by the Colorado Department of Higher Education. Students enrolling in Westwood College - Online are enrolled under the Colorado Department of Higher Education's requirements. Westwood College - Online will respond to all requests initiated by prospective students for information about online programs. All students, regardless of their state of origin, will receive the same protections as Colorado state residents. Westwood College - Online is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). Candidate with The Higher Learning Commission and an affiliate of the North Central Association Telephone: (800) 621-7440 or (312) 263-0456. Website: http://www.ncahlc.org/. Not all programs available at all campuses. © 2009 Alta Colleges, Inc.
